Humidifier



` Aug. 3o, 1927.

J. SCHULZ HUMIDIFIER Filed May 24, 1923 Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

lUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN scHULz, or CHICAGO, I'LLINois.

' Himmufmn.

n Application led May 24,

`associated therewith andl a water containing reservoir located above the wick, 'together with means (zo-operating with said device to automatically feed water from the reservoir to the wick. u

Other objects and advantages ofthe invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification Fig. 1 is a plan' view of my im? proved humidifier. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse, vertical, ctional view, partly broken away, corresponding substantiall to the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective vie-w of a wire supporting frame used in connection with the device.`

In said drawing 10 denotes a rectangular sheet metal frame comprising vertical side walls 11-11 and end walls 12-12. At their upper edges the walls 11 and 12 are provided with inwardly projecting, horizontal flanges 13 rigidly connected at the corners of the frame in any suitable manner, as by being soldered, to provide in effect a continuous flange. The end walls 12 are cut away at their lower sides as clearly shown in Fig.

'3, and the lower edges of the side wallsl 11 are provided with inwardly projecting horizontal iianges 14, for apurpose hereinafter described. u

A rectangular wire screen 15,I of a size to tit the interior of the frame 10, is permanently attached to the top of the frame by havingy the edge portion thereof soldered or otherwise secured tothe lower f aces ofl the flanges 13. The screen 15 is provided with a j central opening adapted to receive a screw threaded sheet metal ring 16 provided with a peripheral flange 17 extending over the up V per surface of the screen at the edge of the opening and rigidly secured theretdiin any Amon u nally and externally screw threaded sheet 1923. serial No.v 641,029.

'suitable manner, preferably being soldered.l

The ring 16 is also braced and supported by a pair of spaced sheet metal strips 18 of 'angular cross-section, extending transversely of the frame, beneath the screen 15 and rigidly secured to .the lowerfaces of the flanges 13 of the opposite side walls 11 and to the opposite sides of the rin in any suitable manner, preferably by being soldered thereto. The strips 18 also serve tosupport t-he central portion of the screen 15 and have the upper Hanges'thereof soldered to the screen adjacent the point at which the ring is attached g thereto.

A second rectangular wire screen 19, of a size to tit the interior of the frame, is supported below the screen 15 by means of a rectangular wire supporting'frame 20, having three legs 21, of similar construction, and a y fourth leg 22 of somewhat different design.

The supporting frame'20, as most clearly Shown in Fig. 4, -is' formed of a continuous wire, the legs 21 being formed by downwardly extending loops at three corners and the leg 22 being formed by downwardly extending portions 23 and 24 bent at their lower ends to provide feet 25, the portions 23 and 24 forming the opposite'end terminals of the Wire. The legs 21 and 22 are'adapted to rest o n the flanges 14 of the frame and the -peripheral portion of the screen 19 is loosely supported by the upper horizontal portion' of the wire frame 20.

The screen, 19 is provided with anfopening concentric with the opening in the vupper screen 15` and adapted to receive a shallow cup 26, provided with a peripheral horizont-al flange 27 projecting over the top of the screen 19 and permanently secured thereto, in any suitable manner, preferably by being soldered'. The cup 26 is of greater diameter than the ring 16 so that the vring extends into the same when the parts are assembled.

A at wick 28 of rectangular shape is supported upon the screen 19 as clearly shown in Fig. 3tlie wick 28 is continuous and extends into the cup 26 and over the. bottom thereof.

The wick 28 may be of any suitable design and construct-ion, butyis preferably of open mesh fabric. v l

A reservoir 29-for thel supply of water is supported by the frame 10,'above the cup 26. The reservoir'29,1hereinillustrated, is in the form of vaglass receptacle, preferably a com- Mason jar provided with an interciable distance into the cup 26 when the parts are assembled, so that the lower face ofthe cap rests on the wick and is at a level a;sub-

stantial distancel below the upper rim of the cup.

In assembling ythe parts, vthe screen 419 withV tnhe wick 28 thereon, is first inserted through the bottom of the frame. v The wire support 2O is then placed in position by inserting the same through the bottom of the frame. It

will be evident that the frame may be contracted, Aby springing lin the three sides thereof by forcing the ends of the sidesadjacent the leg l22 inwardly, inward movement thereof being permitted due to the fact that the parts 23 and 24 are arranged in loosely abutting relation. The support `2O may, therefore, be easily inserted and spread apart, so that the legs k21 and 22 will rest on the. supporting flanges 14 Iof the frame 10. The screen 19 maybe easily removed atwill, to renew the wick 28 by contracting the sup-port 20 and removing the same, as here-inbefore described.

rlhe operation of my improved humidifier is as follows. l with water and the cap screwed into place thereon.A The reservoir 29 is then attached to the frame while the 'latter is in inverted position, by screwing .the cap 30 into the The frame 10 and the reservoir- 29 attached -thereto is then turned over, so

ring 16.

opening 31 of the cover 30 gradually filling vthe cup 26. Over-flowing of the cupiwill be -prevented by the action of the atmospheric pressure on the surface of the water inthe :cup 26, sustaining the Vcolumn of water in the reservoir a partiall vacuum being created .in the upper part ofthe reservoir. The. water is drawn up into the wick from the cap by capillary action, thereby causing the entire wick to .become thorough-ly saturated.

The device Lmay be placed in position with. reference to a radiator or other heating apparatus,.so.that heated@ airy may pass through the open bottom of the frame, .the screen 19, wick 28 screen 15 vaporizi-ngz the water in the wick, and thereby .humidi-fying the air. As vaperizationtakes.place, the supply will be replenished from the 'cup 26 by capillary action ofthe wick 28. The supplyfof walter inthe cup .26 willremain at a sub.- stantially constant level, being fed 'by the AsV The reservoir 29 is first filled iith the parts infthis position the' 'reservoir 29, the tendency being, as the. level Vin the cup drops, for the water to flow from 'the reservoir, through the opening 31 in the cap thereof, due to the action of gravity,

balanced by the atmospheric pressure on i 'the surface of the water in the cup. The supply of vwaternin the cup is thus automatically replenished as it is drawn out by the wick.

It will be evident that the cap 30- may be entirely omitted and the device work equally well, but .I prefer to provide a perforated cap for closing the mouth of the reservoir, so 'that the reservoir may be assembled with the frame and the parts more 'easily inverted and handled without danger of spilling the waiter. It will also be vevident that 'the perforation 31 serves as a means for conf trolling the rate of flow ofthe water from the reservoir, the same being preferab'ly of illary action, lsaid member' having a portion thereof extending into said receptacle to withdraw the water therefrom and having other substantially horizontally disposed portions extending exteriorly of said receptacle; and meansv for supplying water to said receptacle, including af closed reservoir disposed above said receptacle having out-let means communicating with said receptacle, said outlet means extending into vthe receptacle below the open top thereof.

2. In the device of the character described, the combination with an open supporting frame; of a screen supported at the top of 'sa'id frame; a second screen supported in said frame vbelow said first named screen; a cup supported by said last named screen; a wick of absorbent material extending over said last named screen and projecting into said cup; and a receptacle closed at the top and openl at the bottom supported by said Vframe above said wick, saidl receptacle hav` ing they bottom thereof extending through ysaid first named screen and projecting into saidv cup, withl the `opening thereof disposed below the upper edge of said cup. y

3.1 In a, device of 4the. character described,

vthe combination with. a rectangular frame open at the top and bottom; of lascreen supported at the top of the frame, said screen having a central opening therethrough; a

screw threaded ring disposed in said opening supported by a pair of members secured to the frame; a second screen removably mounted in said frame below said first named screen, said last named screen being supported by a removable support; a cup and a wick rigidly supported by said last named screen said wick extending into said cup; and a water containing reservoir closed at the top and having a screw threaded lower end portion screwed into said ring and hav-` ing a mouth communicating with said cup, said mouth extending into said cup below the upper edge thereof.

t. In a device of the character described, the. combination with a sheet metal frame open at the top and bottom; of a cup supported by said frame; a wick supported' by said fra'me and having portions extending into said cup and other substantially horizontally disposed portions extending exteriorly f said cup; a ring attached to said frame; and a receptacle closed at the top and having an outlet at the bottom, supported by said ring and extending therethrough with the lower end projecting into said cup and the outlet thereof disposed below the level of the upper edge of the cup.

5. In a vdevice of the character described, the' combination with supporting means; of a cup mounted on said supporting means and open at its top; a substantially horizontally disposed wick supported by said supporting `means having a portion thereof extending into said cup and other portions extending exteriorly of said cup; a screw threaded ring mounted on said supporting means above said -cup;iand a reservoir communicating with sa'id cup, said reservoir comprising a glass jar having a screw threaded mouth7 said jar being disposed in inverted position and having the mouth thereof screw threaded into said ring.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a sheet metal frame open at the top and bottom, and provided with a pair of bottom flanges; of a screen closing the top of said frame 'a second screen removably supported within said frame; a wick supported by said second screen; a source of water supply for said wick supported by said first mentioned screen; and means removably supporting said second named screen within said frame, said means including a one piece contractable wire frame supported by said bottom flanges.

7. In a device of the character described7 the combinationwith a sheet metal frame open at the top and bottom and provided with a'. pair of bottom flanges; of a screen closing the top of said frame; a second screen removably supported within said frame; a wick supported by said second screen; a source of water supply for said wick supported by the screen closing the top of said frame; and means removably supporting said second named screen within said frame, said means including a contractable rectangular wire frame having downwardly extending legs supported by said bottom flanges.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a rectangular sheet metal frame open at the top a'nd bottom and provided with a pair of bottom fiangesl; of a screen closing the top of said frame; a second screen removably supported Within said frame; a wick supported by said last named screen; a source of wa'ter supply for said wick supported by said first named screen ;k and means removably supporting said second named screen within said frame, said means including a one piece rectagular wire frame having downwardly bent portions at each corner forming legs adapted to be supported by said bottom ianges, one of said legs being composed of the opposite end portions of said wire, whereby said last named leg is separable so that the frame may be bent inwardly to contract the same.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st day of May, 1923.

f JOHN SCHULZ. 

